IPOB order flops in S/East
Workers, traders, artisans, yesterday largely ignored the sit-at-home order from the separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), for people in the South-east not to carry out human and economic activities.
Daily Trust correspondents who monitored developments in Enugu, Abakaliki and Umuahia cities observed that almost all businesses and commercial offices opened as usual.
Areas monitored in Enugu included Ogbete Road, Agbani Road, Zik Avenue, Mgbemena Road, as well as state’s Secretariat Complex, Ogbete Main Market and New Market, Enugu.
Our correspondent observed that commercial transporters of all types were in full-time business without molestation, just as people crowded bus stops. Artisans also were seen attending to customers in their shops and on the streets. Banks, other financial institutions as well as corporate offices opened and attended to customers as usual.
Mr. Uche Nze a taxi driver in Enugu, said he started business for the day s early as 6.am because the security forces in the state had on Thursday warned trouble makers to keep away.
When Daily Trust worked round some major streets in Umuahia, specially the popular newspaper stand at Isi -gate, people, especially those who lure others into the agitation for Biafra independence ignored the order and were seen in their shops attending to customers.
On Wednesday, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Kabuk, had re-stated the readiness and commitment of the army to defend the territorial boundaries of Nigeria as well as the law-abiding citizens, despite the security challenges facing the nation.
He warned all mischief makers that operate by whatever names to keep away from the entire South-East and all the areas within the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army as the military would not look the other way when any individual or group of persons decide to breach the existing peace in the zone, especially in Enugu State.